Engineering professor awarded 2025 Provost’s Award for research

Access to clean water is a necessity for the environment and human health. However, the increasing presence of invisible pollutants in our water systems has become a growing concern. Itzel Marquez Ph.D. in the School of Engineering and Technology is collaborating with the University of Arizona on a newly funded research project that addresses water contamination. Based on her research grants, published articles, and mentoring of many students in her successful research program, Marquez received the 2025 Provost’s award.  This prestigious award recognizes early to mid-career faculty members who have achieved notable success in research and scholarly activities.  

One key aspect of Marquez's research involves developing wastewater treatment techniques to reduce the impact of organic contaminants such as ibuprofen, sunscreen, and other household chemicals. In traditional wastewater treatment processes, these contaminants cannot be easily removed and therefore end up in water systems, affecting both the health of the environment and posing significant risks to public health. 

Marquez is working with her team of students and collaborators to use specific types of light to eliminate contaminants from the water supply. This process requires a thorough understanding of how the contaminants react when exposed to light.  

Marquez is thankful for the support from CMU to initiate her research program as well as the new funding from the United States Department of Defense grant. The next steps for her team involve collecting samples to understand the effects of light exposure on a variety of contaminants. They look forward to developing effective strategies for improving water quality in vulnerable regions.